Science-fiction novels are rife with examples of technologists so focused on what they can do, they forget to think about if they should do it or not. But according to Pablo Molina of Georgetown University, technology developing faster than ethics is no fictional problem.

“Remember that philosophy problem where there’s a runaway train?” Molina asked us over the phone last week. “Well, fast forward to driverless cars. Let’s say it’s going to run over other passengers. Should the car try to veer away and risk you? Or go forward and kill the passengers? Someone has to program that.”

The good news is Molina says it’s possible to design tech in a way that is ethical.

Originally from Spain, Molina, 47, now lives in Cleveland Park and is the Chief Information Officer of the Association of American Law Schools. At Georgetown, the adjunct professor teaches ethics and technology management. He’s also the founder of theInternational Applied Ethics of Technology Association (IAETA).